NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44 - Episode 044: Headhunter, Reuniting with Family
Episode 044: Headhunter, Reuniting with Family
As the Dark Eye infiltrated the Fluffy Cafe, Maria’s words shocked Ack, bringing him back to his senses.
“What do you mean?”
“Well…”
“…I see.”
Listening to Maria’s story, Ack began to calm down instead.
As long as Snow was with her, Tina shouldn’t be kidnapped, let alone dead.
Ack figured out where Tina might be.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for letting my guard down…”
“No, it’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
Both of them bowed their heads to each other.
“It’s not your fault. I didn’t pay enough attention this time…”
“That’s not it. Tina left on her own. She’s probably gone back home.”
“What do you mean!?”
Maria raised her head in astonishment at Ack’s words.
With frequent patrols inside the mansion and soldiers patrolling outside, it would be difficult for Tina to leave on her own.
Maria couldn’t understand what Ack was saying.
“She must have been lonely. So, when you disappeared, Maria, she couldn’t take it anymore. And then, she escaped from the house with Snow and the others. Snow is much stronger than she looks, and Chiffon and Shiln are monsters too. If they all work together, it’s not impossible for them to evade the guards inside the mansion or climb over the walls outside. The rabbit the gatekeeper saw was probably Snow. Snow distracted the gatekeeper, and in that gap, they escaped through the inner and city gates. So, I’m entirely to blame for not understanding Tina’s feelings and not properly explaining Snow and the others to Maria. I’m sorry.”
Ack spoke unusually long.
He felt he had to do so after seeing Maria’s condition.
He had really wronged her.
“I see…”
“Yeah. I’m really sorry.”
Ack could only bow his head to Maria, who had collapsed as if she had lost all strength.
“How long are you going to keep doing that?”
“Huh, who’s there?”
Maria looked around in surprise at a voice other than Ack’s.
It was still midnight. There were few people outside. There were only Ack, Maria, and a slightly larger wolf here.
There shouldn’t be anyone else speaking besides Ack and Maria.
“I am Rim. A member of the great Fenrir clan.”
“Wha…”
When Rim spoke again, Maria pointed at Rim, her arms trembling.
“What?”
Ack tilted his head, not understanding Maria’s actions.
“He… he spoke!!!”
Forgetting all the hardships she had faced up until now, Maria was shocked to see a talking monster in front of her and screamed loudly.
Maria’s voice echoed through the night streets.
“Have you calmed down?”
“Y-Yes… I never thought I’d encounter a Fenrir while alive…”
“Hmph, I’m not some rare creature.”
After calming down Maria, who had been stiff for a while, Rim took her hand and helped her up.
Since Rim looked displeased but wagged his tail, there was no problem.
“For now, let’s go to the house as Rim suggested. I think Tina will be fine, but I’m worried.”
“Y-Yes, you’re right.”
The two humans and one wolf headed to the Fluffy Cafe.
When they opened the door with the house key and entered, a man with rolled-back eyes fell backward onto Ack.
He was an unfamiliar man.
“Who is this guy?”
“I don’t know, but anyone who’s breaking into Ack’s house at this hour isn’t likely a decent person.”
“Well, forget it.”
Ignoring the unconscious man, Ack entered the house.
“This is… ”
“It seems like we’ve been targeted.”
There lay dozens of corpses. Judging by their attire and physique, they were trained individuals. It was clear that the organized ones had infiltrated to obtain something.
“…They’re still breathing.”
“Snow must have repelled them.”
Maria squatted down to check their pulses and breathing. They weren’t dead; they were just unconscious. Ack had instructed Snow not to kill humans, and it seemed like Snow had followed that instruction faithfully.
“Kyuu.”
“Is Tina okay?”
As they spoke, Snow jumped into Ack’s chest and rubbed its head against him.
“Kyuu!!”
As if to say it was obvious, Snow whined, wriggled out of Ack’s arms, and ran towards the living area. Ack and the others followed Snow.
Entering the bedroom, Chiffon, Shiln, and the others jumped off the bed and crowded around Ack’s feet.
And there were men lying unconscious on the floor here too. Their purpose became clear. It seemed they would need to be punished later.
In the middle of the large, specially ordered bed, there was a small mound. The mound rose and fell slightly.
“Suu, suu.”
Someone was lying there, making quiet sleeping sounds. Getting closer, they saw Tina curled up, sleeping.
“Ah… I’m so relieved she’s safe…”
Seeing Tina safe and sound, Maria collapsed on the spot with a thud.
If Ack had thought the child entrusted to him by acquaintances might have been kidnapped or killed, he would have been just like her with worry. He would have to apologize to Maria later.
“Mm… nn…”
With a sound like a backward fall, the sleeping princess’ eyes slowly opened on the bed.
And then, after a few seconds of unfocused gaze, her eyes locked onto Ack’s, and then widened with focus.
“Ack.”
Wriggling, Tina clung to Ack.
“I’m back. I’m sorry I made you lonely.”
“W-Welcome back… Uwaaah!”
Ack apologized as he lifted Tina, and Tina, relieved, burst into loud sobs that she usually didn’t let out.